Method of reducing material size
US6426136B1 · kind B1 · utility
8Cited by
29References
17Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 3, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 30, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/31826
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of reducing particle size by the use of a supercritical fluid, generally carbon dioxide. The material is swollen by the supercritical carbon dioxide at a high pressure. After the material has been allowed to swell under a high pressure, the pressure is rapidly dropped. When the external pressure is rapidly dropped, the material explodes as the supercritical gas absorbed into the material rapidly expands outward.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.